The Quebec election campaign is entering its final stretch.
Leaders have a week left to pitch to voters ahead of election day on Oct. 5.
Voters can vote early Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the second and final day of advance polling.
- See the CTVNewsMontreal.ca Quebec Election 2026 page for complete coverage
- What you need to know ahead of election day in Quebec
- Follow the party platform tracker
Those who attended advance polls on Sunday told The Canadian Press that issues such as health care, the economy, language and the environment were central to their vote.
Talk of possible U.S. interference in the elections dominated the conversation on the campaign trail this weekend.
Rivals criticized claims by Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) Leader Christine Fréchette that American officials might try to support the sovereigntist Parti Québecois (PQ) to weaken Canada.
Key details:
- New poll shows the CAQ slipping.
- Advance polling continues.
Follow along for the latest updates:
PQ holds strong, as CAQ slips in poll
A new poll by Pallas Dallas shows the Parti Québécois (PQ) leading the pack with 30 per cent (+2) of voter intentions.
In second place is the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) at 23 per cent (+1), followed by the Coalition Avenir Québec at 19 per cent (-3), the Quebec Conservative Party at 17 per cent (+1) and Québec solidaire at 10 per cent (-1).
The PQ leads in voter intentions in every age group, except the 50 to 64 category, where the Liberals are the top choice.
Among those aged 18 to 34, the Conservatives remain their second choice.
The province is also split geographically, with Montreal voters preferring the Liberals and the rest of Quebec leaning towards the PQ; in Quebec City, the PCQ is particularly popular.
Men (34 per cent; +5) prefer the PQ, while women (26 per cent; +4) lean towards the Liberals.
PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon was named the best option for premier of Quebec, at 32 per cent (+3).
He was followed by CAQ Leader Christine Fréchette (18 per cent; +2), despite her party slipping in the polls, PLQ Leader Charles Milliard (17 per cent; -2) and PCQ Leader Éric Duhaime (14 per cent; +1).
Twelve per cent (+1) said they didn’t know, while eight per cent (-5) said QS Leader Ruba Ghazal would make the best premier.
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This is despite Ghazal being the only leader who respondents said they had a positive opinion of (36 per cent; +2) compared to negative (33 per cent; -3) and neutral (31 per cent; +1).
By comparison, respondents said they had a largely negative impression of Fréchette (56 per cent; - 1), Milliard (39 per cent; +4), St-Pierre Plamondon (41 per cent; -7) and Duhaime (52 per cent; -2).
The Pallas Data survey was conducted from Sept. 25 to 26, 2026.
Data were collected from a random sample of 1,198 Quebec respondents via automated calls.
The margin of error is estimated at ±3%, 19 times out of 20 around the 50 per cent threshold.
- Rachel Lau, CTV News digital journalist.
Advance polling underway
Quebecers have the option to head to the polls early to avoid voting on election day.
Advance polling stations opened on Sunday and are set to remain so from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday.
The address of where to go for a particular riding can be found on the registration notice received in the mail, as well as on the Elections Quebec website.
Advance voting has increasingly become popular over the years, with 37 per cent of Quebecers casting their vote early in 2022.
The election is slated to take place next Monday, Oct. 5.
Before the National Assembly was dissolved, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) formed a majority government with 79 members.
The Quebec Liberal Party had 18 members, Québec Solidaire held 11 seats, the Parti Québécois (PQ) had seven, and the Quebec Conservative Party had one.
There were also nine independent members.
- Rachel Lau, CTV News digital journalist.
Day 33
Here is where the party leaders are planning to start their day, in order of first appearance:
Paul St-Pierre Plamondon (Parti Québécois)
PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is expected to begin his day with a press briefing on public safety at 8:45 a.m. in Ulverton.
He will then travel to Lac-Mégantic to meet with the “Nos régions, nos soins” and “L’avenir naît ici” committees, followed by a press conference at the Centre hospitalier du Granit at 12:45 p.m.
In the afternoon, he will take a walk through downtown Magog at 4:15 p.m. and wrap up the day with dinner at the Cantons microbrewery.
Christine Fréchette (Coalition Avenir Québec)
CAQ Leader Christine Fréchette is set to begin her day in the Laurentians, meeting with residents at 10 a.m. at the Espace public in Mont-Tremblant.
She will then head to Abitibi-Témiscamingue to meet with elected officials at Rouyn-Noranda City Hall at 5:05 p.m. and hold a meeting with the Rouyn-Noranda Chamber of Commerce and Industry at 5:50 p.m.
At 6:45 p.m., she will meet with residents at the Polonais Cocktail-Bar in Rouyn-Noranda.
Charles Milliard (Quebec Liberal Party)
Liberal Leader Charles Milliard is slated to tour the Chantiers Chibougamau facility at 10 a.m. and meet with the group Les Entêtés at Le Borée restaurant at 11:45 a.m.
In the afternoon, he will meet municipal officials at Val-d’Or Regional Airport at 2:45 p.m. before meeting with Air Creebec at 3:30 p.m.
He is set to visit the company HydroTech Mining at 4:05 p.m. and conclude the day with a press conference at the Cité de l’Or at 4:50 p.m.
Ruba Ghazal (Québec Solidaire)
QS Spokesperson Ruba Ghazal will remain in the Greater Montreal area to hold a press briefing at 10:15 a.m. to present her commitments about mental health at the park pavilion at Quai de la Tortue.
She will then meet with students from Université de Montréal at 2:30 p.m. at Café Bar La Brunante.
At 6 p.m., she will participate in a vigil in memory of Joyce Echaquan at the Lanaudière Indigenous Friendship Centre in Joliette.
Éric Duhaime (Quebec Conservative Party)
Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime is set to hold a press conference at 3 p.m. at a location to be confirmed.
The leaders
- Coalition Avenir Québec Leader Christine Fréchette hopes to stay premier
- Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon brings party back from the brink
- Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard promises to renew party
- Québec solidaire’s Ruba Ghazal enters first campaign as spokesperson
- Conservative Party of Quebec Leader Éric Duhaime vying for seats
